The Penn's Grove record., 1887-09-10
THE WIDOWS AD0NIS.

Fitzgerald Brandon was n of the
lucky mortals treated with maternal
partially by that tickle jade, Fortune.
No stepdame frowns fell to his share,
no chilling glances, no rebuffs. Every
thing went well with him.
Did be speculate imprudently, the
speculation, however unpromising, was
certain to do well; did he back a rank
outsider OF a great race, it was almost
certain of a. place. Fortune always
befriended him. He generally rose a
winner from his post-prandial rubber,
not because his skill was extraordinary,
but from shere force OF luck; n IL
was on record that at one occasion he
broke the bank at Monte Carlo.
He was, besides, extremely hand
some, though on a llliputian scale; tor
Fitzgerald Brandon was not only one
of the luckiest, but also n or the
smallest of men. He stood Just hve
feet five in his boots, but his neat little
figure, always dressed in the most per-
fectly-ftting chefs-d'oeuvre OF Small
page of Poole, was so erect, so dapper.
and so well proportioned, that any
shortcomings of stature were readily
forgiven and forgotten by his numer-
GUS admirers of the fair sex. For
whatever the lady-novelist may say,
women are not SO utterly devoted to
those lords of herculean build and
superhuman physical strength who
invariably figure in the pages OF fash
ionabIe fiction.
Little Fitz was, in his way, quite a
lady killer, and as he was well known
to be a rich man as well as a lucky
man, his lines generally fell in pleasant
places. His position in society was
assured, and many a fair demolselle
moving in the very best circles would
have been willing enough to share his
fortunes.
But little Fitz seemed reluctant to
don the matrimonial letters; he es-
chewed the society Of the demoiselle a
marier. prefering the maturer charms
of ladies who already wore the marriage
ring and yet could enjoy a Irritation
without fear of a scandal.
In short, little FitZ was a devoted
admirer Of that privileged class, young
and pretty widows.
Perhaps he fondly imagined he was
less likely to be ''caught" by these
bereayed SIRENS than by young de-
butantes still under the maternal wing.
at all events, he was nearly always
to be seen with one or other of these
fair ladies who, having dotted their
weeds, had doomed out again In all
their pristine brilliancy.
And that is how he won the sou
briquet by which he was known in
every club in London, of, The
Widows Adonls."
"Just look at the fellowl How any
woman can take up with such a con-
ceited little coxcomb, l can't imagine"
SAID Maitland, of the 50th Dragons
..heavy' dragon in more senses than
one. for he rode fourteen stone and was
more remarkable for breadth of shout
der than q~uickness of wit-to his
fdus Achates one morning in the Row.
"There's no accounting for tastes"
muttered the other, pulling his mus
tache and dartlng envious chances at
little Fritz, who was seated between
two of the prettiest young widows in
London, and seemed nightly to relish
his position. 81 should have thought
q charming woman like Mrs. Desmond
-n He did not finish the sentence,
but glared fercely at the dapper figure
of little Fltz, who was laughing and
chatting gayly to his fair companions.
IL looks could kill, what wholesale
slaughter would go on In this highly
civilized metropolis of ours.
~ f-F1wkh fhn tnnnQaIfninna
offshoot of All ancient family tree,
would have given a good deal to secure
pretty Mrs. Desmond and her fortune,
which was said to be considerable. At
one time she had accepted his homage
with apparent pleasure, but since Fitz-
gerald Brandon had crossed her path
she had turned a deaf ear to the PENN.
less young attaches pretty speeches.
Poor Carnforth. in spite of his good
looks, felt that he was hopelessly out OF
the running, for, though Brandon
might be, as Maitland said, "a con-
ceited little coxcomb.n 1t was impossi-
BILE to deny that he possessed the art OF
making himself agreeable.
The two ladies, between whom this
miniature Paris was seated were as an
tagonistic to each other as Maitland
and Carnforth were to the object OF
their rivalry, for the two pretty widows
were rivals, and hated each other cor
daily, though they called each other
.sDear Minna'' and "Dear Clemen-
tina" and before the eyes of the world
posed as great friends and allies.
In appearance the two Indies con-
trasted well, and each hattered herself
that her friend was an excellent foil to
her own charms. Minna Desmond was
q tall, handsome brunette, with fine
eyes and magnificent black hair, while
Clementina Somers was a fairy-like
blonde, with a dazzling complexion,
bright blue eyes, and a chevelure of the
most beautiful-dye; at least, so her
dear Minna" said. Both were repu-
ted to be wealthy and acknowledged to
be charming, and both were bent on
securing the affection of that fortunate
individual, "'The Widows Adonis."
"Pshawl" muttered Carnforth, as be
watched the trio. ~ suppose his money
Is the attraction"
"Of course it isl You don't think
any woman would admire his looks, dc
youYn retorted Maitland, ~squaring his
broad shoulders and arranging the gar
denia in his button-hole. "Women are
always ~mereenary," he added, with .
sigh.
He had only a couple IF hundred 9
year and his pay. A good matrimonial